Municipal Water and Sewer System

Municipal Water and Sewer System

WATER IN

WATER OUT

Water Purification Plant Storage/

Pressure Tank

Wastewater Treatment

Plant

Domestic Water Useby Country

100

200

300

400

0United States Canada Italy Sweden France Israel

380litres

329litres

250litres

200litres 150

litres135

litres

Litres of waterper person

per day

Waste less water shut off the water when it’s not being used

What do we mean by water conservation and efficiency?

Use water more efficiently use less water to do the same job

Stop misusing water don’t use it for the wrong purpose

We can save watereverywhere …

30% toilet flushing

35% showers and baths

10% kitchenand drinking 20% laundry

5% cleaning

The Three Rules ofwater conservation and efficiency

ReduceRepair

Retrofit

WHAT CAN YOU DO … in the kitchen?

10%

Reduce

Repair

Retrofit

ReduceAutomatic dishwasher? full loads energy-saver setting

Wash dishes by hand? fill the sink/pan

only partially and rinse in another pan

Reduce Keep a bottle of

drinking water in the fridge

Don’t thaw food under a running tap

Steam vegetables

Repair

Repair Leaks

RetrofitInstall…water-efficient faucet aerators

Think twice…before installing a home water treatment system

water conditioning water filtration

WHAT CAN YOU DO … in the bathroom?

65%

Reduce

Repair

Retrofit

Reduce

Turn the tap on only when you really need water

Don’t let the water run while you are doing things like brushing your teeth, shaving, etc.

Consider an automatic faucet

ReduceTake a 5-minute shower

Retrofit Install a low-flow showerhead

aerated non-aerated

Reduce

Half full should be enough

Careful with the hot water!

Reduce Don’t use your toilet

as a garbage can

Repair Toilet run-on

Leaks6 L

18

Retrofit

RETROFIT

18-litre 6-litre

Quick fix for now... water displacement

device (plastic bag or bottle)

water retention device (toilet dam)

Best solution... install a new 6-litre toilet (low-flow model)

WHAT CAN YOU DO … in the laundry room?

20%

Reduce

Repair

Retrofit

Reduce and Retrofit

Washing Machine Wash full loads Use the shortest cycle Adjust the water level Use warm water

Hot Water Tank Set the thermostat at

50°C and insulate Install a heat trap

Consider a point-of-use water heater

Reduce and Repair

Piping System Use meter readings in off-hours to detect leakage

Repair leaks

Keep pipes from freezing

Stop

!

Misusing the sink drain … for household cleaners, paint, solvents, pesticides, and other chemicals.

Store and dispose of hazardous products properly… Never pour them down the drain!

Buy only the environmentally hazardous products you really need and only in quantities you will completely use up.

WHAT CAN YOU DO … outdoors?

REDUCE REPAIR RETROFIT

Remember: Outdoor water use increases water consumption by 50% or more

Retrofit

Switch to low maintenance landscaping

Consider native vegetation

Replace grass with drought-resistant plants and ground cover

Use interlocking paving stones for walkways and patios

Reduce Don’t over water (2-5 cm/week;

at most every 3-5 days) Water in the coolest part of the

day (early morning) Use a sprinkler that delivers BIG

droplets (instead of spray) Water the lawn (not walkways

and roads) Use an automatic timer on the

sprinkler Leave grass at least 6 cm long

Reduce

DRIP DRIP DRIP

One real soaking beats several quick wettings

Deliver water slowly (3 drops/second)

Water the roots, not the leaves

Reduce Use rainwater

(from your rain barrel)

Use a wateringcan on flower and vegetable gardens

Use compost and mulch in your garden

Reduce Use a bucket and sponge to

wash the car

Use a trigger nozzle to rinse

SAVE ABOUT 300 LITRES OF WATER… each time !

Reduce

Use a broom to clean your driveway or sidewalk

SAVE ABOUT200 LITRES OF WATER… each time !

Reduce Use a pool cover

Check equipment for leaks

Keep the water in the pool... don’t overfill

WHAT CAN YOU DO… to keep track of water use?

Read the meter(if you have one)

Keep a water log

Pinpoint areas where water savings can be achieved

Water Log …

using average consumption figures

no big water users (e.g., swimming pool, big garden, etc.)

Result: > 200 L/day/person

with water efficiency

(Household with 2 adults)

WAT E R L OGW hat you do How m any tim es each day Actual Total

1

In the Bathroom

to ile t flushes

In the K itchen

In the Laundry Room

In the O utdoors

O ther

2 3 4 5 6 7

Average

Total W eekly

x 18 L

estim ate

65%

10%

20%

(record number of m inutes)

Total times

showers x 100 L

x 60 Lbaths

x 10 Lteeth brushing

x 20 Lshaving

cookingx 20 L

dishes by handx 35 L

x 40 Ldishwasher

washingx 225 L

car w ashes x 400 L

garden/lawnwatering

x 35 L/m in.

WAT E R L OGW hat you do How m any tim es each day Actual Total

1

In the Bathroom

to ile t flushes

In the K itchen

In the Laundry Room

In the O utdoors

O ther

2 3 4 5 6 7

Average

Total W eekly

x 18 L

estim ate

65%

10%

20%

(record number of m inutes)

Total times

showers x 100 L

x 60 Lbaths

x 10 Lteeth brushing

x 20 Lshaving

cookingx 20 L

dishes by handx 35 L

x 40 Ldishwasher

washingx 225 L

car w ashes x 400 L

garden/lawnwatering

x 35 L/m in.

5 7 4 6 7 9 8 46 828

2 1 1 2 1 7 7002 2 4

4 4 4 3 4 4 4 27

240

2701 1 1 1 1 5 100

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7 140

1

1

1

1

1

1 1

3

4

105

160

1 2 3 675

1 1 400

30 30 1050

4668

WAT E R L OGW hat you do How m any tim es each day Actual Total

1

In the Bathroom

to ile t flushes

In the K itchen

In the Laundry Room

In the O utdoors

O ther

2 3 4 5 6 7

Average

Total W eekly

x 18 L

estim ate

65%

10%

20%

(record number of m inutes)

Total times

showers x 100 L

x 60 Lbaths

x 10 Lteeth brushing

x 20 Lshaving

cookingx 20 L

dishes by handx 35 L

x 40 Ldishwasher

washingx 225 L

car w ashes x 400 L

garden/lawnwatering

x 35 L/m in.

5 4 6 7 46

2 1 1 2 1 7 350

2 2 4

4 4 4 3 4 4 4 27

1 1 1 1 1 5 5

1 1 1 1 1 1 6 90

1

1

1

1

1

1 1

3

4

60

1 3 525

1 1 100

30 30

2743

6

5030

27

100

7 9 8 276

120

1

1

15

20

35 140

2 175

1050

Every Drop Counts …

Behaviour Change

Retrofit

18 L 6 L

For example… In the bathroomBefore18 L each20 L/min.

toilet flushesshowers

After6 L each9.5 L/min.

Adapted from Environment Canada’s publication: Water: No Time to Waste -

A Consumer’s Guide to Water Conservation.

For information on this and other Environment Canada publications, contact your local Environment Canada office or:

Enquiry Centre Environment Canada Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3 Tel.: (819) 997-2800 Toll free: 1-800-668-6767 Fax: (819) 953-2225

The End